If you're handy at soldering, you can remove the module later if you want to upgrade.

If you can afford to wait an unknown time, wait for the 9xr with integrated module.

If you can afford to wait a shorter amount of time, order the 9xr and the module of your choice. I think most people have a high opinion of the FrSky (I do).

In general, I don't mind backordering on hobby king. It comes through eventually without a problem. For smaller things (connectors, etc) I buy in (relative) bulk... i.e., a package of 10 connectors. It's about the same price as an individual item locally, and I just treat my parts box as I would a store. I probably spent about $200 or so "booting up" with the basic parts.

After that, it's just like any inventory management... running low on some thing, add it to the next hobby king order. I'm the supplier of choice for several of my friends as well. :-)

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much prices have dropped since you left the hobby!

I've not any plans for my 9XR yet --- pimping wise... but I ordered orange and green nuts for these two TX

That photo is in the paint booth, once they got a zillion coats of gloss and the components on them I really like them. Green one was dubbed alien goo, and red/yellow one was dubbed bloodshed . Bloodshed has sky9x board with speach and the works -- Alien goo has smartieparts and TelemetrEZ.